Using Free Online Courses to Discover Your Dream Career

Are you one of many students struggling to figure out what they want to do for their post-secondary career? Oftentimes, students have trouble identifying their key skills and preferences when deciding what area of study they want to pursue. This is especially detrimental considering that post-secondary education is designed to hone skills for working in your desired field. Luckily, with Pathways and Alison, students don’t have to take a shot in the dark when it comes to determining their futures. In this article, we’ll explore a series of free online courses that can lead students onto the path of self-discovery, allowing them to make an informed decision about their dream career. 

The Importance of Self-Discovery in Career Planning

Self-discovery is the first step in the process of career planning. It involves understanding your interests, values, strengths, and aspirations. It’s difficult for a high school student to have a well-rounded view of themselves by the time they graduate, but without a clear sense of who you are and what you want, it's easy to find yourself in a career that doesn’t align with your passions or abilities. 

• Understanding Your Interests: What genuinely excites you and motivates you in your everyday life? Is it one of your elective classes? Your social life? The drive to get top grades? Certain clubs or sports activities you engage with? Perhaps it’s none of those things. If so, why not? The path won’t always be clear, but sometimes determining exactly what you don’t like helps you realize what does motivate you. 
• Aligning with Your Values: What you value in your life, whether it’s work-related or not, will come into play when it’s time to jumpstart your career. Do you value a certain political stance? When it comes to working, do you seek to have a social impact in what you do? Are you hoping to be in a job that you can stay in for a long time? Certain careers call for different values, and it’s draining to work in an area that goes against your values. 
• Recognizing Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Now that we’ve discussed interests and values, there’s still another aspect of self-discovery we need to touch on, and that is strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes the area that fascinates you doesn't align with your strengths. For example, if you’re interested in space exploration, but struggle in your astronomy classes, becoming an astronomer may not be realistic for you. 

Ideally, your interests, values, and strengths should all align with your chosen career path. Next, we’ll list some specific careers and areas of studies, and provide a list of classes that can help you gain an understanding of them. 

 

 

Healthcare

Healthcare is the perfect career choice for those who:

• Are passionate about helping others
• Value making an impact in their work
• Get good grades in health and science classes
• Are empathetic
• Have critical thinking skills
• Don’t easily crack under pressure

Try Free Online Healthcare Courses:

1. First-Aid and CPR Certification 
2. Fundamentals of Health and Social Care
3. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
4. Telehealth for Healthcare Providers
5. Wound Management for Health Professionals
6. Safe Handling and Administration of Medication
7. Elderly Care and Caring for the Disabled

Information Technology (IT)

An Information Technology (IT) job will work best for those who are:

• Interested in technology
• Proficient in using various forms of technology
• Interested in coding or software development
• Think analytically 
• Detail-oriented
• Value innovation

Try Free Online Information Technology (IT) Courses:

1. Diploma in Information Technology Management
2. Internal Auditing - Information Security Management Systems (ISMS)
3. Anti-Money Laundering and Customer Verification Training
4. ITIL 4 Fundamentals - Essentials of IT Service Management
5. Business Intelligence and Knowledge Management Systems
6. Diploma in Digital Forensic Investigation
7. ISO 20000 - Principles of IT Service Management System (ITSM)

Education and Training

Those who would thrive in a education career typically possess: 

• A fondness for children
• A passion for sharing knowledge
• Strong communication skills and enjoy communicating frequently
• Patience 
• Empathy
• Emotional regulation skills

Try Free Online Education and Training Courses:

1. Diploma in Educational Psychology
2. Child Protection and Welfare
3. Working with Students with Special Educational Needs
4. Essentials of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC)
5. Learning Support Assistant (LSA) Training
6. Physical Education - Coaching Styles and Techniques
7. Fundamentals of Storytelling in Education for Teachers and Trainers

Finance and Accounting

Finance and accounting can be a beneficial career path for those who…

• Enjoy working with numbers and data and are able to use them to draw conclusions
• Are interested in economic trends
• Are passionate about investing, financial planning, or wealth management
• Possess problem-solving skills
• Possess analytical skills
• Possess clear communication skills

Try Free Online Accounting and Finance Courses:

1. Fundamentals of Accounting
2. Introduction to Cash Accounting
3. Accounting for the Charity Sector
4. The Accounting Cycle and Financial Statements
5. Introduction to Payroll Accounting
6. Essentials of Throughput Accounting and Lean Accounting
7. Tax Accounting Systems and Administration

Engineering

Engineering is an exceptional career path for those who…

• Have strong analytical skills
• Good grades in math and sciences
• Possess technical proficiency
• Possess adaptability
• Have a natural curiosity for how things work 
• Enjoy designing and creating things from scratch
• Value efficiency, learning, and innovation

Try Free Online Engineering Courses: 

1. Engineering Project Management
2. Fundamentals of Value Engineering Tools and Techniques
3. Introduction to Industrial Engineering
4. Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering
5. Tissue Engineering and Material Characteristics
6. Chemical Engineering Overview
7. Prompt Engineering for AI Applications

Marketing and Advertising

A marketing and advertising career would suit someone who:

• Is a creative thinker
• Is adaptable
• Is interested in communications
• Is a strong writer and communicator
• Is customer-centric
• Has a results-driven mindset

Try Free Online Marketing and Advertising Courses:

1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for Small Businesses
2. Lead Generation for Small Businesses
3. Segmentation and Demand Focusing in Marketing Analytics
4. Marketing Management - Analyzing Competitors and Customers
5. Maximizing Customer Engagement for Business Growth
6. Mastering Public Relations for Brand Building
7. Social Media Marketing - Bootstrapping With Fundamentals

You can find other courses for specializing in: 

• Arts and Design
• Construction and Trades
• Languages
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Law
• Government
• History
• And much more…

By leveraging the wealth of free online courses available through platforms like Pathways and Alison, you can explore various fields, assess your strengths and interests, and gain the knowledge needed to make informed career decisions. These courses offer a low-risk, high-reward opportunity to dive into different subjects and industries. They can help you uncover  your true passions and align them with a fulfilling career path. Remember, self-discovery is a journey, and these resources can be your guide as you navigate towards a future that truly resonates with who you are.